Wagon hitch



Dec. 2, 1941. `w. .J. couL'rAs Erm. 2,265,061

WAGON HITCH Filed Oct. 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l .4o A ,J0 L f M I I l f 17| i, 45 4sG les y, 73 l!! |09 s2 4\ i l =r El |25 4?A |02 6.08 ne 1 INVENTOR; f y wlLBuR J. couLTAs. a

1 B p STANLEY E. |53 f j/ ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 2, 1941.

w.\J. COULTAS ITAL WAGON HITGH Filed Oct. 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .m @E s. g

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NVENTOR: wlLBuR J. couLTAs a B l STANLEY E. l.`

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Dec. 2, 1941.

w. J. coUL'rAs E-rAl. wGoN HITCH Filed Oct. 61939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mON NVENTOR: WILBUR J. COULTAS 8x NLEY Patented Bec. 2, 1941 NETE@ S'TES TEN' OE'HCE WAGON HITGH Wilbur J. Coultas and Stanley E. Hill, Moline, Ill., assgnors to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinoisl Application October 6, 1939; Serial No. 298,234

23 Claims.

supported on the implement on vertically spaced Y brackets eliminating the necessity for a ground support but providing for generally horizontal swinging movement of the beam. A further object is to provide an adjustment for at least one of the brackets to adjust the axis of swinging movement angularly relative to the vertical.

Another object of our invention is concerned with the provision of an articulated wagon hitch beam, the outer end of which is suitably counterbalanced, as by means of a spring, to swing out of the way to permit a wagon to be drawn up into hitching position.

A further object is to provide a latch for holding the outer end down during normal operation. The weight of the outer end plus the weight of the wagon tongue is more than sufiicient to resist the counterbalancing lifting force under ordinary conditions, but on rolling ground, the' tongue occasionally rises relative to the implement draft member, whereupon the side draft occasioned by the offset hitch connections, would' cause the articulated beam to buckle to a greater angle, drawing the wagon closer to the implement,

after which the weight on the outer end of the beam would not be suiicient to lower the latter against the counterbalancing force and the side draft. We have found that best results are obtained by providing a latch or stop on the hitch beam which prevents the outer vend fromswinging upwardly beyond an angle of 17 degrees relative to the inner end of the beam.

Still another object relates to theprovisiori ofy a wagon hitch beam of'truss construction that is braced against bending in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane to provide adequate rigidity.

A further object relates to the provision of connecting means on theimplement by which-the wagon hitch beam can be connected in-substantially fore and aft alignment therewith after being dismounted from'its normal operating position, and thereby serving asa draft member for purposes of transporting the implement' from one field to another, through narrow roads and gates.-

Still another object has to do with the provision of alconnecting member at the outer end of the wagon vhitch beam, which has a wagon tongue supporting part that is movable out of position to permit the connecting member to be swung into tongue embracing position, after which the tongue supportng part can be secured in place. A related object is the provision for automatically opening the tongue supporting part as one wagon is releasedv therefrom, to place it in open position for receiving another wagon f tongue.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the artA after a consideration of the following description in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure 1 isa plan View showing hitch connections embodying the principles of our invention for connecting a corn picker and a wagon-in laterally spaced position behind a tractor;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the wagon hitch as observed froma position adjacent the wagon on looking toward the tractor;

Figuresv is a perspective view of an adjustable device for connecting the wagon hitch-beam to the implement;

Figure 4 is a partial elevational .view of the wagon hitch beam showing theY outer section thereof raised to inoperative position;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device for connecting the steering tongue of a wagon to the outer end of the wagon hitch beam;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tongue supporting member shown in Figure 5 showing the detail of the latching device;

Figure 7A is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan View taken along a line 3-8 in Figure 5 and showing the details of the latch mechanism for connecting the wagon to the wagon hitch beam;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a latch device for latching the outer section of the wagon hitch beam in raised position; and

Figure 10 is a plan View showing the wagon l' hitch beam connected to the corn picker in the transport position for towing the implement behind the tractor to and from the field of operations.

Referring now to the drawings, the agricultural implement HlA is indicated as a single row corn picker although we do not intend our invention to be limited to this particular type of` implement as the principles of our invention can. be applied equally well to various other imple.-

ments. The implement I is disposed in trailing relation behind a tractor and offset laterally therefrom so that the corn picker is in position to harvest a row of corn adjacent to the path of travel of the tractor while the tractor runs over a previously harvested portion of the field. The corn picker I0, which is indicated merely in outline for the sake of simplicity, can be of any suitable design comprising a pair of gathering points I2, suitable snapping rolls on husking mechanism (not shown) and a wagon elevator I3 extending laterally and upwardly in a direction away from the standing corn and adapted to receive the ears of corn from the husking mechanism and conveying them to a wagon I4 which is drawn along with the corn picker, in proper position for receiving the corn therefrom, by means of the hitch connections which will be described in detail presently. The corn picking and husking mechanism is supported on a transverse axle I5 on which is journaled a pair of laterally spaced supporting wheels, one of which is indicated by reference numeral I6. The wagon elevator I3 is supported on the corn picker mechanism and also on a frame member I1 connected to the axle I5. The corn picker is connected to the tractor by means of a draft member 20 including a pair of frame bars 2|, 22 fixed at their rear ends in transversely spaced relation to the corn picker axle I5 and extending forwardly and inclined outwardly in a direction away from the standing corn, in forwardly converging relation. The forward ends of the frame bars 2|, 22 are connected to a hitch plate 23 which is pivotally connected by means of a pivot bolt 24 to the drawbar 25 of the tractor. The latter is fixed to the tractor and held against lateral movement with respect thereto by means of a pair of diagonal braces 26. 22 are rigidly interconnected by braces 21, 28 and 29. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the gathering points I2 and snapping rolls (not shown) are movable vertically by means of a lever 30 extending forwardly to a position within reach of the tractor operator. The lever is held in adjusted position by suitable latch mechanism 3| which engages a rack 32 mounted on the tractor draft member 20 and rigidly braced by braces 33, 34.

The wagon |4 is supported on a pair of rear wheels 40 and a pair of dirigible front wheels 4I, controlled by a steering tongue 42. The wagon I4 is spaced laterally from the corn picker Ill and is offset from the tractor on the side opposite to the corn picker so that the side draft of the wagon balances the side draft of the corn picker. The wagon I4 is propelled and steered by means of a wagon hitch beam 45 which is mounted on the implement and extends forwardly and laterally to a point of connection with the wagon tongue 42.

According to the principles of the present inventin the wagon hitch beam 45 comprises a pair of articulated inner and outer sections 45, 41, respectively,` the two sections being swingably connected together so that the outer section 41 can be raised to a vertical position so that when one wagon has been filled it can be disconnected and hauled away and an empty wagon substituted therefor without interference by the hitch beam. The inner hitch beam section 46 comprises a pair of vertically spaced outwardly converging frame members 48, 49 having a pair of vertically aligned pivot supports at the inner The draft frame members 2|,

ends thereof serving as the sole support of the articulated beam 45. The lower beam 49 is supported at its inner end on a pivot plate 5U which is attached to one of the frame members 2| of the implement draft frame 20. The ends of the frame members 48, 49 are interconnected by a vertical hinge rod 5| which is rigidly fixed to the frame members by diagonal braces 52. rThe hinge rod 5| extends below the lower frame member 49 and is inserted through a suitable aperture in the hinge plate 5B, thus forming the lower pivot support. The upper end of the hinge rod 5I extends above the upper frame member 43 and is inserted through a suitable aperture (not shown) in a pivot bracket 53 and thus forming the upper pivot support which is disposed generally in vertical alignment with the lower support of the beam section. A retaining strap 54 is fastened to the upper frame member 48 by bolts 55 and has an offset end thereof provided with an aperture 56 which receives the upper end of the hinge rod 5I and prevents the hinge bracket 53 from becoming disconnected from the rod 5|. Referring more particularly to Figure 3 for details of the upper pivot connection, the bracket 53 has a pair of horizontally spaced vertical portions 51, 58 which have horizontally aligned apertures 59 adapted to receive a cylindrical rod 50, the outer end of which is threaded as at 6I. The rod 63 is supported on a vertical standard 62 which is supported on the implement draft member 20 and braced by suitable braces 63. The rod 55 extends rearwardly and inwardly to a suitable point of connection (not shown) on the implement body, and is further supported by a suitable brace 64 which rises vertically from a horizontal bracing member 65 connected between the two frame members 2|, 22 of the draft frame 20. The rod 60 is rigidly secured to the standard 62 by means of a pair of nuts 8G on the threaded end portion 6| and which are drawn up tightly on opposite sides of the standard 52.

The hinge bracket 53, which is slidably disposed on the rod 6B, can be rigidly secured thereto by means of a pair of nuts 61, 68 disposed on 4the outer threaded end 6| These nuts B1, 68 are tightened against opposite sides of the outer vertical portion 51 of the bracket 53 to hold the latter at any position of adjustment along the rod 50, and thereby adjusting the upper end of the hinge rod 5| of the hitch beam 45 and since the lower end of the rcd 5| is held in fixed position by the hinge plate 50, this adjustment causes the outer end of the hitch beam 45 to be raised and lowered.

The upper and lower frame members 48, 49 of the inner section 45 of the hitch beam. extend outwardly in converging relation from the hinge rod 5| and are rigidly interconnected by vertical braces 1i) and diagonal bracing members 1I to form a rigid truss that is solely supported on the vertically spaced hinge brackets. The outer ends of the converging frame members 48, 49 are interconnected by means of a vertically disposed plate 12 which also serves as a rear support for the pivot bolt 13 about which the outer beam section 41 is vertically swingable. The hinge bolt 13 is disposed substantially horizontal and extends generally forwardly from. the supporting plate 12 and is carried at its forward end on the outer end of a truss member 14 that is spaced forwardly of the converged outer ends of the vertically spaced members 43, 45 and which converges inwardly with the lower frame member 49 lto-a point of .connection :therewith adjacent .the lowerendfof the .hinge rod 5|. 'The frame member 14 isbraced 1in a forwardly spaced position with :respect Lto the llower frame member 49 by means of a brace .15.

The outer beam section 41 comprises a pair of outwardlyconverging front and rear beam members 80, 8|, the inner-ends being spaced to fit between the supporting plate 12 and the forward member M of the innersection, andthe members 89, 8| are journaled on the hinge bolt 13 for vertical swinging movement about the bolt as an axis relative tothe inner beam section 45. The hinge joint between vthe beam sections 45, 41 is strengthened by a bearing strap 82 which is rigidly bolted to the rear frame member 8| and is oiset rearwardlyat its inner end and suitably apertured to receive the hinge bolt 13,thus providng an outboard bearing for the beam member 8 Likewise, a similar supporting strap is indicated at 83 and is bolted to the forward member 14 of the inner beam section Thearticulated hitch :beam 45 is swingable :in .a 'generally horizontal plane about the iaXis of ythe hinge .rod y5| for the :purpose of adjusting `the angleat which it extends laterally fromthe Virnplement |0. Thelhitch beamis securedn adjusted position by .means of'an extensible drawbar 85 which connects the :hitch beam .to .the tractor and transmits draft from 'the tractor tothe hitch beam for drawing the wagon'id. 'Thedrawbar 85 comprises a pair ofvfront'and rear'telescoping tubularsections, 81;;respectively, which are interconnected 'by' meansA of. af-bolt r488.y inserted through rany 'one of a `snurnberaol apertures-'B9 f' spaced .along .the outer tubular section -|51 and through a suitable. aligned aperture yin ithe^inner section 8.5. The forwardfend of :theiront drawbarsection :'85 is connected ybyga'fb/oltSlJ'toa pair of straps'Ql, '9.2 which are lboltedrespectively .to the drawbar support :93 and thedrawbar 25 -of the .tractor I I. 'The rear drawbar section 81'extends under the forwardmember Y11| ofthe :inner hitch beam section d5 and isfpivotally connected to the latter by means lof-a Vertical l-pin94supported at 'its upper land-lower ends rin the vertically spaced framemembers 48,:49 and extending through aligned apertiu'es inthe rearendof the section 81. Itis `now evident that-'by-shifting the bolt 83 from oneof fthe'apertures 89 toanother,zthe Wagon hitch bea-m'45isadjustably set in any of a number-of angular positions relative tothe implement draft frame 2|). A U-shaped support 55, best illustrated -in -Figure v4, 1extends under the drawbar 85 and is connected xto the frame member =1i|forthefpurpose of preventing twisting movement -of 'the vdrawbar .t5 and .the inner beamseotion 46.

The wagon 'Hl is'connected to thefouter--end of `the hitch vbeam '45 by meansof alconnectingdevice, indicated generallyby theireference numeral |90, which will now be-described. .Referring now more particularly to FigureszZ and 5, the connecting device |09 includes a support indicatedgenerally by lnumeral vIBI vfor slidablyreceiving and supporting the steering tongue .4.2 ofthe wagon, and a latch device .|52 bymeans of which the Wagon is'adgiustably` secured Vto thehitch beam 45 in several longitudinally spaced positionsrelative to the implement |13. The latch .device |52 is preferably in the form of a casting having a downwardly extending spindle |63 formed integral therewith and adapted to vextend downwardly through an aperturem/t in theupper side of the'end of the hitch beam section 41. -The lower end lof `the spindle j |63 isiinserted through an aperture flnthe top portion ofthe tongue supporting member ..|"|1| @Whichis `of linverted U- shape,.zand;the latterfisasupported on a;cotter;pin ftiinserted'fthrough: ahole 01 in ithe end .ofpt-he spindle 3h03. '.Thuszthe latch member D2 Aand the -tongueisupporting lmember lill are supported at theouterrend of -thehitch'beam 45'but are free to pivotitoiailimited lextentabout a vertical axis throughxthespindle |032 to accommodate-the lateral fswingingfof fthesteering tongue 42 .-relativeito .the `wagon hitch fbeamduring the l.turns eas rthe equipment :fis propelled-around the field by Ithe ,tractor i|- :Draft .'istransmitted fromthe hitch beam l5-to the wagon 4.4 throughadraft member .fl 08 which lies along `fthe-top:A of fthe steering tongueJiZ--andfis connected-fatfits rearfend :thereto by,means ofya bolt H39. .The 1latchmember ||l2is providedwith anfopen slot hill-adapted to. slidably vreceive Athe wagon -.dratt emember |08. The wagon draft member--Iffisgpreferablyin .the `form `of atubular .bar of :rectangular cross section, `one ...side .of rwhichiis .providedwithapluralityof spacedapertures adapted to receive thepawl |.|.2.of the vlatching rmechanism. :.By.. engaging A.the ,pa/wl ..|.|..2 successively witheach of .theapertures .spaced alongfthe rwagon-diraitmember |08, the .longitudinali-positionofthe Wagon with respect. tothe implement `elevator -L3 .can .be adjusted .in .order to Aproperly .distribute .the l. ears .of corn `through- .outthe Wagon `box. @The latchpawl .|12 .is slid- 4ably supported .inganopeningji Ain a Wall .||.4 of the groove .|.1|0.and .the opposite end of thepawl |.2 has. a-.cylindrical ,portion l Athat is .inserted .throughian .opening in a-.second verticalportion .|,|.5.spac.ed..from.the .wall .|.|.4. ,The .pawl |,2 ,is .urged .towardlocked position by lmeans vof .a .compression spring coiled around the.cylin.drical portion |.6 .and reacting against the inner side of the vertical section H5 of the latch mem- .ber.'|02.

'The pawl |'|'2 canbe slid outof lockedposition .by means of a lever'l 8 which is pivoted on a verticallydisposedpin ||9 supported on the casting |02. The shortend |20 of the lever ||8 is received within .a horizontally disposedslot .|2| in the intermediate portion of the .latchipawl ||2 and secured thereto by means of a vertical pin |22.

The wagongdraftmember 0B is retained within the .groove 'I l0 Iby means of ,a retaining pin |25 that isslidably supported in a pair of spaced lugs |21, |28 ihaving aligned apertures to receive the retainingpin |25, the apertures being indicated by reference numeral |26 (see Figure 6). The pin |25 is normally .disposed in aposition overlapping 1.the top ,of the wagon vdraft member '|08 and is yielclably heldiin this position by means 'of acoil spring |29, 011e end of which is inserted through ahole ,|35 -in the pin and the other-end reacting vagainst the lug |21. The opposite end of 'the pin-is formed in a rU-shape to providea handlebygmeans of which the vpin can be easily ,withdrawnffromacrossthe top of the draft member |58. The other leg |3| of the U-shaped pin is slidably held in an aperture |32 lin the lug 21 and serve s to preventthe pin-|25 from being rotated as the Wagon draft Amember w3 is slid Ithrough the-groovel |13.

#The I'tongue supporting Ymember IEM is of inverted f U -shape' having ,a pairv of downwardly ex-g.. :tending side members ii, :|5, each si-demernber having a .rubbing lplate |31 adapted to engage 'the side `of :the wagon. steering :tongue-42 to hold the tongue in proper position for steering the wagon during operation. The wagon tongue 42 is supported during operation on a supporting arm |38 made in the form of a cylindrical rod and having one end turned downwardly, as at |39, and inserted through a suitable opening in a hinge lug |40 which is carried at the lower end of the side member |35. The suporting arm |38 is thus swingably supported at one end on the side member |35, for horizontal swinging movement about the axis of the downwardly turned portion |39. The outer end of the supporting arm is detachably received within a latch indicated generally by reference numeral |42, and comprising a pair of upper and lower jaws |43, |44, respectively. The lower jaw |44 is rigidly carried on the lower end of the side member |36 and projects rearwardly therefrom. The upper latch jaw |43 is pivotally connected by a pin |45 to the side member |36 and is urged downwardly in engagement with the supporting arm |38 by means of a compression spring |46, the latter reacting against an adjustable slide member |41 which is secured to the side member |36 by means of a bolt |48. The bolt |48 isl supported in a suitable threaded opening in the side member |36 and extends through a vertically extending slot |49 in the adjustable slide |41. The jaws |43, |44 are so shaped that they hold the supporting arm |38 against rearward swinging movement about the pivot |39 with a force that is proportional to the amount of pressure exerted downwardly by the spring |46, and which pressure is adjusted by adjusting the slide |41 vertically on the side member |36. The wagon steering tongue 42 rests on a roller |50 that is journaled on the supporting arm |38, and thus is freely slidable through the tongue supporting member v A wagon is connected to the hitch beam 45 by swinging the outer section of the latter, 41, downwardly over the tongue 42, the supporting arm being placed in open position as the side members are swung downwardly on each side of the tongue 42. The supporting arm |38 is then snapped into 'engagement with the retaining jaws |43, |44 and the tongue is then in operating position. Since the wagon draft member |08 is loosely connected to the tongue by the bolt |09, the member |08 Vcan be easily -moved to one side to permit the hitch beam section 41 to be swung into this position. The draft member |08 is then placed in the groove ||0 after withdrawing the pin |25 away from the groove H0. The empty wagon is preferably placed in its most advanced position with respect to th'e elevator |3 and with the latch pawl ||2 engaged in the most rearward aperture in the draft member |08. As the equipment advances down the field, the corn from the elevator I3 fills the rear end of the wagon box first and when the pile of corn in the rear of the wagon reaches the height of the wagon box, the tractor operator releases the latch pawl ||2 from the draft member |08 by pulling on the lever ||8 through the medium of a control rope which is connected to the end of the lever H8, thereby causing the wagon to drop behind as the tractor moves forwardly. The rope |5| is immediately released, whereupon the latch pawl ||2 drops into the next opening in the draft member |08, thereby causing the wagon to be drawn along in a new position with respect to the elevator |3. In this manner the wagon is dropped back from one position to the next until it is evenly filled with corn from one end to the other and it is then necessary to disconnect the lled wagon and replace it with another empty wagon. The tractor operator releases the full wagon by pulling on the rope |5| and releasing the latch pawl ||2 from the foremost opening i in the draft member |08, after which the draft member |08 is dropped from the latch member |02 upon continued movement of the tractor, the wagon having stopped because of the interruption of draft force, and finally the wagon tongue 42 slides out of the tongue supporting member |0|. Just before the wagon tongue is withdrawn from the supporting member, the shoe |52, which projects downwardly from the lower portion of the pole cap |53, engages the supporting arm |38 and breaks the latter away from its latching jaws |43, |44. In this manner the supporting arm |38 is swung to its open position preparatory to receiving the steering tongue of the empty wagon.

In order to swing the outer section 41 of the hitch beam 45 out of the way to permit the empty wagon to be drawn up into the proper position for connection with the hitch device, we have provided means in the form of a spring for urging the outer section |41 toward its raised or inoperative position upon being released from its connection with the wagon tongue. The spring means comprises a coiled tension spring |55 connected at one end to the inner hitch beam section 46 by means of an eye bolt |56 which engages a lug |51 fixed to the lower frame member 49. The opposite end of the spring |55 is connected to a rod |58 which is anchored to a standard |59 which extends upwardly from the member 8| of the outer hitch beam section 41. The standard comprises a structural member which is bent into an acute angle to provide an outwardly and downwardly extending bracing portion |60 which is connected to the frame member 8| near the outer end thereof. A bracing member |6| interconnects the two legs |59, |60 for strengthening the standard. The

' spring |55 is provided with suflicient tension to raise the vertically swingable hitch beam section 41 alone, but the spring tension is insuicient to raise the combined weight of the beam section and the wagon tongue when they are connected together. It has been found desirable, however, to limit the extent of upward swinging movement of the outer beam section 41 dur- Ving operation, particularly when a wagon of the stiff pole type is connected to the beam. In this type of wagon the pole or draft tongue 42 is supported from the Wagon in a generally horizontally extending position and at times when the implement and wagon are being drawn over rolling ground, the tongue is sometimes lifted due to the angularity of the slope upon which the wagon is running, to such an extent that the wagon tongue is moved appreciably closer to the tractor causing the wagon to follow inwardly closer to the corn picker. In such cases the weight of the tongue and outer beam section 41 is sometimes insufficient tc swing the beam section back to a horizontal position after the wagon is once more on level ground for the weight of the tongue and outer beam section is resisted not only by the tension of the spring |55 but also by the force of the side draft on the wagon tending to swing the wagon into trailing position in line with the tractor. To overcome this diiculty we have provided means for limiting the angle to which the .outer hitch beam section 41 can be raised relative to the inner section 46. This limiting means is in the form of a latch mechanism |65 which is disengageable from the tractor operatorsposition to permit the outer beam section to swing to a .vertical position when a full wagon is being released, but which permits the outer beam section 41 to swing vertically through a limited angle during the harvesting operation. We have found by experiment that it is desirable to limit the `vertical swinging of the outer beam section to an angle of about 17 degrees above the horizontal during operation. This amount of vertical swinging is sufficient to accommodate the movement of the implement and Wagon over uneven ground,

but is not sufficient to allow the tongue and beam section to become hung up, as described heretofore. The latch mechanism comprises a slide bar |66 which is preferably of tubular rectangular construction and is pivotally connected to a bracket |61 which is fixed to the standard |58, as by welding, andis vertically swingable about a pivot bolt |68. The slide bar 66 is slidably received within a guide casting |69, `the latter being pivotally mounted on a vertically extending y lug fixed to the upper frame member 48 of the inner hitch bar section 46, for rotation about a pivot bolt |1|. As best illustrated in Figure 9, the slide bar |66 is held within the guide casting |69 by means of a latch member |12 having a hinge pin portion |13 engaged under a hook `portion |14 on the guide casting |69 providing for swinging movement of the member |12 about the axis of the hinge pin |13. A latch dog |15 is xed to the opposite end of the Vlatch member |12 and is positioned to engage an aperture |16 in the side of the tubular slide bar |66. The latch member |12 is urged toward latched position by means of a compression coil spring |11 which bears against the side of the latch member |12 and reacts against a washer |13 fastened to the outer end of a retaining pin |19 by means of a cotter |88. The pin |19 extends axially through the coil spring |11 and through a hole |8| in the member |12 and is anchored in the guide casting |69. A control rope |82 is tied to a ring |83 at the end of the latch member |12 and the rope |82 extends to within easy reach of the tractor operator. In Figure 9 the slide bar |66 is illustrated in the position in which the outer hitch beam section 41 is raised to its upper limit during operation, which is preferably at an angle of 17 degrees above the normal position in g line with the inner section 46. It will be noted that the back space |84 of the latch dog |15 is inclined at such an angle to the slide bar |66 that the bar is free to move toward the right, as viewed in Figure 9, when the outer beam section is held down by the weight of the wagon tongue 42. The outer beam section 41 is prevented from swinging below the last named position by means of a key |85 which acts as a stop and engages the end |86 of the guide casting |69.

It is now evident that as the wagon tongue 42 is withdrawn from the tongue supporting member |6I, the shoe |52 disengages the supporting arm |38 after which the spring |55 draws the outer beam section 41 up to an .angle of approximately 17 degrees whereupon the latch dog |15 engages the aperture |16. The tractor operator then pulls the rope |82 withdrawing the dog |15, and the spring then pulls the beam section to the vertical position indicated in Figure 4. It is evident that during operation if the wagon should rollover Va severe `incline which would tend to V'force the outer beamsection abovethe 17 de- .gree angle, thelatch mechanism |65-would lock Ithe-articulated hitch beam sections together and yfurther upward movement of the Wagon tongue would tendvto raise the whole wagon hitch beam -45 as a unitary structure. Thereis enough ilexibilityiin theA hitch beam to permit .a Areasonable .amount of `distortion at v'such times lto accommodatea certain amount of such excessive'tongue movements. The combined weight ofthe .wagon tongue and fthe entire hitch beam structure, however, are `sulcient to return the wagon `tongue to its proper operating position after the wagon is oncemore on levelground.

When transporting the `corn picker from one vfield to another through narrow gates and roads, it is desirable to have the picker trailing directly behind the tractor rather than in offset-position. Referring now more particularly to .Figure l0, we have provided means for reconnecting the wagon hitch beam 45 to the .implement draft frame 26, whereby .the hitch beam serves as the Adraft member for the implementduring transport. For this purpose the hitch beam 45 turnedxon its side with the bottom portion turned toward .the gathering mechanism .|2. Thehinge rod .5| is placedgenerally parallel to the implement axle i5 .and is fastened to the draft frame 26 by means of a pair of laterally spaced vertical- .ly extending .ears |98, |91. One of the ears |86 can best be'seen in Figure 2 and is;permanently fixed, .as by Welding, to the frame member 2| of the draft frame immediately behind the standard 62. An opening |92 is .provided in the ear |96 for .receiving the .end of the hinge bar 5| which .is normally upward during harvesting op- Ieration. The other ear 9| is detachably-secured, as by `bolt |83, to a generally horizontal bracing member |84 connected between the frame member 122 andthe implement axle I5. The ear itself |9| extends upwardly and-has a hole adapted -toreceive the opposite end of the hinge rod 5| andis bent substantially at right angles to `prom'de a horizontal supporting portion |95 which vrests @upon the member |64 and is bolted thereto by the bolt |63, the latter'being removed in or- :der to connect .the 'hitch .beam in transportposition. When thus connected, the hitch beam is ,swingable vertically about the transverse axis of the hinge rod 5| and therefore in order lto transport the implement, .the draft frarne 26 requires .a'second point of support on the hitch beam 45. .For .this purpose we have provided a supporting Lrod 260 which is 'inserted through a pair of aligned .openings in av pair of upwardly'extending vlugs 261,262, spaced .along the frame member 22 .and rigidly .fixed thereto. The forward end of the supporting rod 268 is bent to form a handle 263,-as best shown in Figure 2, and the opposite end of the rod is threaded to receive a securing bolt 264. After the hitch beam has been secured .in place by theears |96, |9|, the supporting rod 268 is inserted through the lugs 26 282 above the .truss beams 48,749, and thus when the .hitch beam is raised and connected to the tractor, the draft frame 2|) of the implement is supported thereon. In operating position the .trussed beam members `48y 14, 80, 8| lie in a generally horizontal plane whereby the greatest resistance of the wagon hitch beam 45 to bending is opposed to a force acting rearwardly at its outer end; whereas in transport position the greatest resistance of the wagon hitch beam to bending is opposed to a vertically acting force, so that maximum strength of Ythe beam is obtained for ysupporting the imple- .ment on the tractor drawbar 25. The forward end of the hitch beam is pivotally connected to the tractor drawbar 25 by means of a vertical pivot bolt 205 extending through a hole 266 provided for this purpose and best shown in Figure 2. During transport the latch mechanism |12 prevents the hitch beam from buckling in a horizontal plane when the tractor makes a right turn. During transport the drawbar 85 is removed from its connection on the pivot pin 94 and is laid across the hitch beam and draft frame in any suitable position for transporting the latter and is secured thereto preferably by inserting a bolt through the forward end of the inner section 85 and through a hole 201 in the member 8| of the outer section 41, as best shown in Figure 2.

We do not intend our invention to be limited to the details shown and described herein except as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A hitch connection between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, comprising a draft member connecting said implement to said tractor, a vertically extending standard supported on said draft member, a threaded member carried on said standard, a bracket hung on said threaded member, a pair of adjusting nuts disposed on the latter on opposite sides of said bracket, a second bracket carried on said draft member in vertically spaced relation to said first bracket, and a wagon hitch beam supported on said brackets.

2. A hitch connection between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, comprising a draft member connecting said implement to said tractor, a vertically extending standard supported on said draft member, an articulated wagon hitch beam comprising an inner section including vertically spaced interconnected frame members pivotally supported on said standard for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis, an outer section including horizontally spaced, interconnected frame members, and means for pivotally connecting said sections together for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis, including a pair of horizontally aligned hinge means and a frame member on said inner section spaced horizontally from said interconnected frame members for supporting one of said hinge means.

3. An articulated wagon hitch beam comprising an inner supporting section and an outer tongue receiving section, said inner section comprising a pair of vertically spaced outwardly converging frame members having a pair of vertically aligned pivot supports at the inner ends thereof serving y as the sole support of said articulated beam, and f a third frame member diverging outwardly from one of said outwardly converging members, a pair of generally horizontally aligned hinge joints, one of said joints being carried on the outer converged ends of said vertically spaced frame members and the other being carried on the outer end of said outwardly diverging frame member, said outer beam section being supported on said hinge joints for vertical swinging movement relative to said inner beam section and comprising a pair of frame members spaced horizontally at their inner ends and connected to said hinge joints, and converging outwardly therefrom, and a wagon tongue receiving device supported at the outer end of said outer beam section.

4. A hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon disposed at one side thereof and having a steering tongue, comprising an articulated hitch beam supported on said implement and extending laterally therefrom, said beam'comprising an inner supporting section and an outer wagon tongue receiving section supported on said inner section by means providing for movement between extended operating position and retracted position, biasing means tending to move said outer section toward said retracted position and releasable detent means for restraining said movement of said outer section.

5. In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon disposed at one side thereof and having a steering tongue, a hitch beam member extending laterally from said implement and supported thereon by means providing for movement between normal extended position and retracted inoperative position, biasing means tending to urge said beam toward said retracted position, and releasable detent means for restraining said movement of said beam.

6. In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon disposed at one side thereof and having a steering tongue, a hitch beam member extending laterally from said implement and pivotally supported thereon by means providing for vertical swinging movement between an extended operating position and a raised inoperative position, releasable means for connecting said beam member to the wagon tongue, spring means connected to said beam member for urging the latter toward said raised position, and releasable latch means for holding said beam member in said operating position.

'1. In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon disposed at one side thereof and having a steering tongue, a hitch beam member extending laterally from said implement and pivotally supported thereon by means providing for vertical swinging movement between an extended operating position and a raised inoperative position, means releasable by remote control by the operator of the implement for connecting said beam member to the wagon tongue, spring means connected to said beam member and adapted to raise the latter to said inoperative position when released, latch means connected'between said beam member and said implement for releasably locking said beam member against being raised by said spring means, and remote control means under control of the operator for releasing said latch means.

8. A hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon disposed at one side thereof andl having a steering tongue, comprising an articulated hitch beam supported on said implementy and extending laterally therefrom, said beam comprising an inner supporting'section and an outer wagon tongue receiving section supported on said inner section by means providing for movement between extended operating position and retracted position, means releasable by remote control by the operator of the implement for connecting said outer section to said wagon tongue, a spring connected between said beam sections and energized in the extended position of the latter and adapted, upon release of said tongue connecting means, to move said outer section to said retracted position, latch means connected between said sections for releasably locking the latter in said operating position, and remote control means under control of the operator for releasing said latch means.

9. In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, a draft beam, and a tongue receiving member on said beam and adapted to embrace and support said tongue during operation, in-

agencer cluding .a partforming the lower portion of said member upon which said tongue normally rests, said part being displaceable to release said tongue, and means attached to said tongue for displacing said supporting part responsive'to forward movement of said receiving member relative to said wagon tongue.

10, In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement-and a wagon having a steering tongue, a draft beam, and a tongue receiving member on said beam and adapted to embrace and support said tongue during operation, including a hinged'part forming one side of said tongue embracing member and means for fastening said part inv tongue retaining position, and a projection near the end of said tongue adapted to engage saidv part when said tongue is withdrawn from said receiving member, for unfastening said hinged part and swinging the latter open preparatory to receiving another wagon tongue.

1l. In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement'and a wagon having a steering tongue, a draft beam member pivotally connected'to said implement for vertical swinging movement about a generally fore and aft extending aXis,-and a tongue receiving member on said beam and adapted to embrace and support said tongue during operation, in-cluding a part forming the lower portion of said receiving member on which said tongue is carried during operation, said part being swingably supported at one end thereof` at one side-of said receiving member and releasably. fastened at its opposite end to the other side of said receiving member, whereby said beam can be swung on said pivotal connection downwardly overlsaidf tongue with said tongue supporting part in open position, after which the latter is fastened in closed position under said tongue, and means on said tongue engaging said receiving member as the tongue is withdrawn y from the latter, for tripping open said tongue supporting part.

12. In a hitch connection between an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, a draft beam, and a tongue receiving member supported below said beam and adapted to embrace and support said tongue during operation, said member including a pair of vertical side members depending from said beam, a tongue supporting bar hinged to one of said side members, and latching means for releasably supporting said bar on the other of said side members.

13. In combination with an implement having a generally forwardly extending draft frame adapted to be connected to a tractor for propelling the implement in offset relation with respect to the tractor, a generally laterally extending wagon hitch beam having a pair of vertically aligned hinge means for detachably supporting the same on said implement in laterally extending position for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, a pair of generally transversely aligned hinge means on said implement for detachably connecting said hitch beam to said implement in generally forwardly extending position for connection to a tractor for propelling the implement in line with the tractor during transport, and means for securing said hitch beam to said implement forwardly of said last mentioned hinge means to restrain swinging movement between said beam and said implement during transport.

14. In combination with an implement having a generally forwardly extending draft frame adapted to be connected to a tractor for propelling. the implement in offset' relation withdrespectto theftractor, awagon hitch beam extending laterallvfrom said draft frame, a standard mountedonsaid draftv frame for supporting said hitch beam' and having vertically aligned hinge means fordetachably connecting said hitch beam thereto for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of generally transversely aligned hinge means mounted'on said draft frame for detachably connecting said'hitch beam to said draft framein generally forwardly extending position for connection tota'. tractor for propelling the imple-` mentv in line with the tractor during transport, and means for securing said'hitch beam' to said draftframe forwardly of said last mentioned hinge means to restrain swingingrmo'vement between said beamr and said draft frame during transport.'

i5.' In ahitch device of the class'described, an impiementldraft member, a wagon hitch' beam connected to said draft member and extending laterally therefrom, a drawbar pivotally connected` to said hitch beam and 'extendinglongitudinally therefrom and adapted to be connected to a draft means, said hitch beam including a frame member rigidly connected to said hitch beam andspac'ed longitudinally along said drawbar from the pivot connection of the latter with said hitch beam, said frame member engaging said drawbar at a point spaced appreciably from said pivotal connection of the latter to resist twisting ofthe hiteh beam relative to the drawbar.`

16. Ilrahitcli' device of the=classdescribed,fan implement draft member, a wagon.- hitch'beam connected to said draft member and extending laterally therefrom, a drawbar pivotally connected to said hitch beam and extending forwardly therefrom and adapted to be connected to a tractor, a frame member on said hitch beam extending forwardly of the pivot connection of said drawbar with said hitch beam and engaging said drawbar to resist relative twisting therebetween in one direction, and means fixed to said frame member and embracing said drawbar for resisting relative twisting therebetween in the opposite direction.

17. A hitch connection between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, comprising a draft member connecting said implement to said tractor, a wagon hitch beam, and a pair of vertically spaced supports for hanging said beam on said implement providing for generally horizontal swinging movement, one of said supports being adjustable and comprising a threaded member, a bracket slidable on said threaded member, and a pair of adjusting nuts disposed on the latter on opposite sides of said bracket.

18. In combination with an implement having a generally forwardly extending draft frame adapted to be connected to a tractor for propelling the implement in offset relation with respect to the tractor, a wagon hitch beam attached to said implement and extending generally laterally therefrom, said beam having its greatest resistance to bending in a certain axial plane and being disposed in a position in which its greatest resistance to bending is opposed to a force acting horizontally rearwardly at its outer end, and means for optionally attaching said beam to said implement in a forwardly extending position for transport purposes with the beam disposed with its plane of greatest resistance to bending shifted substantially ninety degrees to oppose a vertically acting force at its outer end,

19. In combination with an implement having a generally forwardly extending draft frame adapted to be connected to a tractor for propelling the implement in oifset relation with respect to the tractor, a wagon hitch beam attached to said implement and extending generally laterally therefrom, said beam having a truss member normally disposed in a generally horizontal plane with said beam to provide maximum strength for drawing a wagon, and means for optionally attaching said wagon hitch beam to said implement in a forwardly extending position for transport purposes with said truss member in a substantially vertical plane with said beam to provide maximum strength for supporting the forward end of the implement on a tractor.

20. The combination set forth in claim 18, with the further provision of means adjacent the outer end of said wagon hitch beam providing a pivotal connection with the tractor on an axis substantially in the plane of greatest resistan-ce of the beam to bending.

21. The combination set forth in claim 19, with the further provision of means adjacent the outer end of said wagon hitch beam providing a pivotal connection with the ltractor, comprising means apertured on an axis substantially in the plane of said beam and truss member.

22. A hitch connection between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, comprising a draft member connecting said implement to said tractor, a Vertically extending standard supported on said draft member, a wagon hitch beam comprising vertically spaced upper and lower outwardly converging members interconnected at their outer ends,

and means for adjustably connecting the inner ends of said members to said standard at vertically spaced points comprising a bracket interconnecting one of said members with one end of said standard, a second bracket having an aperture, threaded bolt means extending therethrough, nuts engaging said bolt means on opposite sides of said bracket, and means connecting said second bracket and bolt means between the other of said converging members and the other end of said standard.

23. A hitch connection between a tractor and an agricultural implement and a wagon having a steering tongue, comprising a draft member connecting said implement to said tractor, a vertically extending standard supported on said draft member, a wagon hitch beam comprising vertically spaced upper and lower outwardly converging members interconnected at their outer ends, and means for adjustably connecting the inner ends of said members to said standard at vertically spaced points comprising a bracket pivotally connected with said draft member at the lower end of said standard and with said lower beam member for swinging movement about a vertical axis, and means for pivotally connecting the upper beam member with the upper end of said standard comprising a pivot member disposed coaxially with the pivot connection of said lower bracket, a bracket connected with said pivot member and having an aperture therein, a threaded member extending through said aperture, and a pair of nuts engaging said threaded member on opposite sides of said bracket.

WILBUR J. COULTAS. STANLEY E. HILL. 

